NFL, TV execs, hardware makers spar over white spaces broadband

Unused TV spectrum has great potential as a conduit for wireless broadband, …

With the Federal Communications Commission in the process of deciding whether to open up unused TV spectrum for the use of unlicensed "white spaces" wireless broadband devices, voices on both sides of the issue are being raised to ensure that they are heard by the Commission. The latest salvo in the war of words took place late last week and came courtesy of a handful of TV executives one on side, and an industry trade group on the other.

Currently, the analog TV spectrum is locked up for exclusive use of television stations. With the transition to digital television set for February 2009, the FCC is contemplating how best to use the empty spaces between TV channels. The White Space Coalition wants the spectrum to be used for wireless broadband, while the National Association of Broadcasters argues that doing so could result in TV signal interference.

Last week, executives from the four largest TV networks in the US sent a letter to the FCC in which they asked the Commission to prohibit the deployment of white spaces devices. "Current proposals based on 'sensing' to avoid interference could cause permanent damage to over-the-air digital television reception," reads a copy of the letter seen by PC World (but is not available via the FCC's web site for some reason). "Interference in the digital world will cause a digital picture to freeze and become unwatchable."

The letter echoes the same themes as an ad campaign unveiled by the National Association of Broadcasters last month. One of the commercials in the NAB's campaign features a grandmother whose Sunday-afternoon football viewing is being spoiled by a pixelated TV picture—presumably from a nearby white space broadband device.

The Information Technology Industry Council countered the TV execs' submission with a letter of their own. According to PC World, the technology trade group accused the broadcasters of carrying on a misinformation campaign, saying that the claims of interference were "unfounded" and "designed to confuse consumers and policymakers."

"Is this thing on?"

The debate extends beyond broadcasters and wireless broadband proponents, however. Even audio engineers are chiming in to make their voices heard, as are companies that manufacture or use wireless microphones. One comment (PDF) submitted to the FCC last week comes courtesy of a "consultant and contractor to the audio visual market place." He notes that wireless microphones use spectrum from 470MHz to 700MHz and expresses his concerns that white spaces broadband could cause interference with the operation of wireless microphones.

Shure, a manufacturer of high-end audio equipment, shares that concern. "Without the surefire protection from interference promised by the proponents of portable white spaces devices ('WSDs'), important wireless microphone systems operating daily across the Nation in broadcasting, news, sports, entertainment, religious and educational events and programming will be at severe risk of disruption," the company argues in a filing (PDF). The company wants the FCC to limit white spaces devices to "fixed" (rather than portable) installations designed for rural broadband service.

Even the National Football League is concerned (PDF) about white spaces devices. While supporting the expansion of broadband services in the US, the league is worried that unlicensed white spaces broadband could cause problems. The NFL wants to ensure that any white spaces devices "will not cause debilitating interference" with the wireless microphones used by NFL officials.

There's a lot at stake, and the FCC has been bombarded with comments from all sides of the issue. A recent presentation to the FCC by Cox Communications underscored the company's belief that white spaces devices would "undermine [the] already complicated DTV transition" and that "consumers could be the real losers." White spaces proponents counter that the real losers would be Americans who would lose out on additional choice when it comes to broadband.

A prototype spectrum-sensing device tested by the FCC earlier this year failed to reliably detect the presence of digital television signals. Further examination by the White Space Coalition showed that the device was broken, and a second model was able to detect signals without error.

The FCC is supposed to issue rules governing the use of the white spaces spectrum by the end of the year. With stakeholders on both sides holding firmly to their positions that white spaces broadband is either primed to solve the United States' broadband problems/doom the nation's transition to digital TV, the Commission is bound to draw heavy criticism, no matter how it rules.